Just Wondering returned to the scene of his biggest success when landing the Tom Hogan Motors Handicap, the highlight of a double for jockey John Murtagh on the opening session of the three-day September meeting.
John Muldoon's charge, winner of the GPT Handicap for amateur riders in 1999, again showed his liking for this venue when leading off the home turn to beat the staying-on Sail With The Wind by three quarters of a length. 'He loves fast ground, and it went against him in the GPT here this year. I will switch him back to hurdles at Listowel', said the Curragh-based trainer.
Murtagh later doubled up, and narrowed the gap to just two behind Pat Smullen in the Flat jockeys championship, when making all aboard Crooked Wood in the Castlegar EBF Fillies Maiden.
Hartigan justified odds-on favouritism in the Kenny Development Group Maiden Hurdle, smoothly striking the front before the last under Charlie Swan to beat Gamekeeper by three lengths. The five-year-old gelding was named by owner J P McManus after former Limerick hurling great Pat Hartigan, and the latter accompanied connections afterwards to celebrate the victory.
'When you call them after a great man, they have a bit to live up to. He has a bit to go yet!' quipped trainer Christy Roche before adding, 'He has always showed plenty at home. He likes jumping, and will go for a winners of one at Listowel'.
Jimmy Mangan saddled a notable 1-2 in the opening Connacht Tribune Beginners Chase, with Glacial Sygnet leading early on the long run-in for Philip O'Brien to beat Mill Bank by four lengths.
Andretti Castle was prominent throughout in the Carl Scarpa Handicap Hurdle, and kept on well from the home turn for Barry Geraghty in this three miles event to beat Lantern Leader by a length.
Oriental Ben, sporting the Ridgewood Pearl colours of Anne Coughlan, provided Curragh handler Vivian Kennedy with a welcome change of fortune in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Maiden. However Wayne Lordan's mount just held on by a fast-diminishing head from Starlight Venture, who flew home inside the final 50 yards.
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